Further information: Dave Hagedorn: Jazz Appreciation
Expanded description:
A textbook will be used to help navigate through the recordings. This book is organized so you can use clock time to reinforce hearing the events that happen in the music. The book has many more examples than we can cover in an 8-week class, so would be a great resource for further study on your own.
Jazz Essential Listening, second edition, Scott Deveaux and Gary Giddins,
W.W. Norton, 2019, ISBN: 978-0-393-66739-4; paperback new: $116.25; digital version with playback: $39.95. The first edition, though more affordable, does not have quite all of the examples listed below, but it does have most, so we can make it work. Used paperback copies on bookfinder.com for $25-$40; 2+ month rental for $18.98.
The last two sessions involve music with Minnesota connections, and current artists, so the textbook does not have listening guides for that music.
Week 1 (January 6): What is Jazz? recording, Leonard Bernstein from 1956. YouTube https://youtu.be/E67GEok6Uj0 Please listen to this before the first class – 42 minutes long. It is a great introduction to the styles and forms that are present in jazz, and Bernstein does some comparisons to classical music. We can refer to this for discussions throughout the entire term. In this class we will explore several elements of jazz: the instruments–brass (solo and section), woodwinds (solo and section); rhythm section; forms and arrangements–blues, free form/atonality, small groups/large ensembles; styles and innovations. A list of what students should listen to in preparation for this and all other classes will be shared with enrolled students once the class membership is determined.
Week 2 (January 13): The trumpet
Week 3 (January 20): Alto and Tenor Saxophones
Week 4 (January 27): Piano
Week 5 (February 3): Big band
Week 6 (February 10): Vocalists
Week 7 (February 24, skipping February 17): Minnesota/Twin Cities Connections
Week 8 (March 3, making up for skipping February 17): Current and Fusion